Automatic boom lock



July 8, 1,947.` F CQRRER 2,423,584

AUTOMATIC BOOM LOCK Filed March 8, 1946 FLOYD CURRER Patented `luly 8, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,423,584 AUTOMATIC BOOM LocK Floyd Currier, Oakland, Calif. Application March 8, 1946 SeriallSIo.V 653,083

Claims. 1

This invention relates to automatic boom lockingA devices and vmore particularly to an automatic boom lock for use on boom masts of cargo ships and the like.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device for locking a boom in raised position on its mast when not in use, said device having control means for unlocking the device, said control means being actuated from a remote position such as, from the deck of the Ship.

A'iurther object of the invention is to provide an Vimproved remotely controlled boom locking device which is very simple in construction, re-

liable in operation and easy to control and comi prising` a small number of easily manufactured parts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and `claims `and the accompanying drawings, wherein: v

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a boom locking device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1. Y Y Y Figure 4 is a cross-sectionalview taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1. y

Figure 5 is a perspective detail view of a locking` jaw member employed in the boom locking device of Figure 1. Y

Referring to the drawings, I I designates a substantially circular base plate which is adapted to be secured to the top of the stationary vertical boom mast. Secured to base plate I I is a bottom horizontal support member I2 and a top horizontal support member I3, a spacer block I4 being interposed between the rear portions of support members I2 and I3 and all three members -being rigidly fastened to base plate I I by bolts I5. Support members I2 and I3 are similar in shape, member I2 being formed with a pair of apertured forwardly extending arms I6 and I'I and member I3 being formed with a pair of apertured forwardly extending arms I8 and I9, the apertures in arms I6 and I3 being vertically aligned and the apertures in arms Il and I9 being similarly Vertically aligned. Between the forwardly extending arms, members I2 and I3 are concave in contour, as shown at 2l).

' Pivotally secured by a bolt 2| between arms I'! and It is a rst jaw member 22 having a rearward bodyportion 23 of reduced thickness Which `to. receive' the pin member and 33 and 'When it is desired to is disposed adjacent lower support Amember I2. Pvotally secured between arms I6 and vI8 by a bolt 24 is a second jaw member 25 having a rearward body portion 26 of reduced `thickness which overlies the rearward body portion 2,3. of jaw member 22. Rearward'body portions 23 and 2G are shaped se `that they are substantially flush with concave surface 2.0 when the jaw members are in locked position as shown in Figure 1.

Secured -to the topsupport member i3 at arear- Ward position thereon are a pair of angle, bracket members 2 1, 28, between Vthe upstanding arms of whichy is pivotally secured a lever bar 29,. Loosely connected to the forward en d of lever bar 29 is a depending pin member 3i) formed with an integral collar 3l normally bearing on the top surface of upper support member I3, said pin member 3B being adapted to passv through vertically aligned apertures 32 and 33 iormed in the respective support members I3 and i2. `The rearward portions of the jaw members 22 and 25 are also apertured 30, each jaw member having a rst' aperture for vlocking it inA closed position and a second aperture for locking it in openpositionQas shown at 34 and 35- respectively in Figure 5. A coil spring 35, contained within av housing31 provided Atherefor on upper support member I3, encircles pin'member 33 and bears on collar 3l, thereby biasing the pin member downwardly with respect to the upper Wall of housing 31.

The free end of lever member 29 is connected by a cable 38 to a control station on the 4deck of theship.v

To unlock the jaw members, cable downwardly which causes lever arm 29 to rotate on its pivot and raises pin member 39 against the pressure of spring 36 out of engagement with the 'respective aligned aperturesr 34 in the rearward portions ofthe jaw members- This releases the jawl members, allowing them to be swung apart by the boom as it leaves the space adjacent concave surface 20. As the jaw members are swung apart their alternate locking openings 35 come into registry with stationary openings 32 pin member 3i) may be released to members in open position. lock the boom in its inoperative position the boom is raised until it abuts the rearward portions of the opened jaw members, cable 3B is pulled downwardly to raise pin member 33 and release the jaw members, and the boom is allowed to rotate thejaw members to 38, is pulled thereby lock the jaw `their locking position, which is shown in Figure 1.

In this position first set of locking apertures of the rearward portions of the jaw members are in registry with the upper and lower pin apertures 32 and 33 and pin member 30 may be lowered into locking position with respect to the closed jaw members.

While a cable 38 has been shown herein as the actuating means for raising pin member 30, lever bar 29 may be rotated by any other suitable remotely controlled actuating device such as a pneumatic cylinder, an electro-magnet, or the like, in place of cable 38.

To protect the mechanism from the effects of adverse weather conditions a suitable housing of sheet metal or the like may be employed to cover the rearward portion of the device.

While a specic embodiment of a boom locking device has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various mocli- Y cations within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention other than as deiined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A boom locking device comprising a first horizontal support member formed with a pair oi arms, a second horizontal support member formed with a pair of arms each vertically aligned with one ofthe arms of the first support member, a spacer block between the rearward portions of the first and Vsecond horizontal support members, a rsthorizontal jaw member pivotally secured between a iirst vertically opposed pair of arms, a second horizontal jaw member pivotally secured between the second vertically opposed pair Y of arms, the rearward portions of the jaw members overlapping and being received between the for-V ward portions of the horizontalY support members, a pair of vertically aligned apertures in the forward portions of said horizontal support members, apertures formed in the rearward portions of the jaw members adapted to register with the support member apertures when the jaw members are in boom locking position, a lever arm pivotally mounted for rotating in a vertical plane on one of the support members, a pin member connected to said lever arm and slidably received in the aligned apertures, and remotely actuated means for rotating said lever arm.

2. The structure of claim 1, and wherein said pin member is formed with a collar and wherein a stationary abutment is provided on one of the horizontal support members adjacent said pin member, and wherein a spring is provided around Asaid pin member bearing on said collar and on said stationary abutment and positioned so as to Abias the pin member towards its aperture-engaging position.

3. The structure of claim 1, and wherein the lever arm isV pivoted at an intermediate point thereof and the pin member is connected to one end of said lever arm, and wherein said remotelyV actuated means is a cable connected to the other end of said lever arm and arranged so that said lever arm will raise the pin member outwardly with respect to the support member apertures responsive to a pull on the cable.

4. A boom locking device comprising a iirst horizontal support member adapted to be secured to the top of a boom mast, said rst support member being formed with a pair of spaced arms, a second horizontal support member formed with a pair of spaced arms respectively vertically aligned with the arms of said rst support member, a spacer block between the rearward portions of the horizontal support members, a first horizontal jaw member pivotally secured between a iirst pair of vertically opposed arms, a second horizontal jaw member pivotally secured between the second pair of vertically opposed arms, the

rearward portions of the jaw members overlapping and being received between the forward portions of the horizontal support members, a pair of vertically aligned apertures formed in the forward portions of said horizontal support members, a rst set of apertures formed in the rearward portions of said jaw members adapted to register with the support member apertures when the jaw members are in boom locking position, a second set of apertures formed in the rearward portions or" said jaw members adapted to register with Ythe support member apertures when the j aw members `are in wide open position, the rearward portions of the jaw members being adapted to be abutted by the boom when the boom is being retracted to locked position whereby said jaw mem-bers are urged toward boom locking posi- Y tion, a lever member pivotally mounted forA rotaremotely actuated means is a cable connected to the other end of said lever member, said lever member being pivoted at an intermediate point thereon, and wherein spring lmeans is provided which biases said pin member toward its aperture-engaging position.

FLOYD CURRIER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Condra Aug. 20, 1901 Number y 681, 175 

